Date: November 24th, 2013

Time: 7:00 PM

Opponent: Winthrop (2-1, 0-0 BigSouth)

Place: Winthrop Coliseum

Television: None

Webcast: Big South Network (Free)

Radio online: ETSUBucs.com

Winthrop 2014-2015 Schedule

Winthrop 2014-2015 Roster

Winthrop Message Board

Most everyone ranked perennial Big South power Winthrop (2-1) several notches higher than UNC Asheville going into this season. And depending on whether you get the team that beat Clemson on the road, or the team that lost on the road by one point on a last second 3 point play at Savannah State, that ranking may or may not be justified.

Winthrop is very different from Asheville – smaller upfront and led by athletic, experienced guards. They lose the rebounding battle -2.0 (34.7 to 36.7), but win the assists (12.3 to 8.3), turnover (13 to 19) and steals (9.7 to 5.3) categories.

BACK COURT:
6’5” 190 SR guard Keon Moore is the big gun, averaging 21.0 points on .500 (13-26) from 3 in 33.3 minutes. He also leads in rebounding with 5.7 and gets 1.7 steals. He’s got the length and skill to be a tough matchup for us.
5’10 170 SR point Andre Smith averages 13.3 points on .444 from 3 (8-18), 4.7 assists, 3.0 turnovers, 2 rebounds and 2 steals in 30.0 minutes.
5’7” 160 SO Keon Johnson averages 6.7 points and shot .441 from 3 last year, with 2.3 assists and 1.7 t.o.’s in 21.3 minutes
6’3” 200 R-Jr Derrick Henry 5.7 points on 2-6 from 3, 1.0 rebounds in 18.3 minutes
Savannah State forced 19 turnovers against them. If we can do that, we can give them trouble.


FRONT COURT:
6’8” 215 SO Jarad Scott 5.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16.3 minutes
6’8” 185 FR Aussie Xavier Cooks 3.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.7 minutes
6’8” 230 R-Fr Duby Okeke 4.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 9.3 minutes
6’6” 225 FR Joseph Lopez 1.3 points, 2.7 rebounds in 10.7 minutes

SWING MEN
6’5” 200 SO Josh Davenport 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals in 14.3 minutes
6’5” 180 JR Tevin Prescott 3.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.0 blocks in 24.3 minutes

They are bigger than us, but don’t have the overwhelming size advantage that Asheville had, witness their -2.0 rebounding margin. We have had trouble in the past with big guards who can score like Keon Moore.

The next step for the Bucs is to prove that we can win on the road against decent mid majors like Winthrop. I’d like to see improvement on defense, more Ron Giplaye and the development of another big. I wish that Tommy Williams would get some playing time. His athleticism, aggression and intensity fits the Bucs style. But I think that he can be effective against guys 3 or so inches bigger.

Two observations after clicking on their roster...

First, they have 3 players who we had interest in during their recruitment. Okeke (came on an official visit), Keon Johnson (we showed interest when recruiting Maurice O'Field), and Andre Smith (Tampa native that was close with some of our guys at the time he was recruited).

Second observation - please click the roster link, and look at how awkward the student managers look in their untucked polos and sweatpants. Put those guys in suits!

Let's get this 'W'!

Hopefully we get the win tonight because I was PO'd after Purdue lost to Kansas State today.

2 weak early fouls to Lester. Devin comes in for him and immediately grabs a steal.

This stream is crystal clear.

But Murry didn't leave Lester sitting for too long. Puts him back in and he makes 2 three's in a row and a layup.

Lester's shooting well...Love this steady flow of substitutions.

Murry has already played 9 guys.

In the first 9 minutes.

Banks got a couple of minutes that's 10 players.

Can't leave Rembert - Wilson and Riley out all at once. Not enough perimeter shooters.

These announcers might be as bad as Lipscomb's. Glad to see Bates contributing.

Stats show Ailshie as having gone in briefly. That's eleven guys played.

Only Tommy Williams stayed on the bench.

Very solid first half...Lester with some timely, "answer" shots.

Currently ahead on rebounds and free throws, and that's probably the difference maker right now. Keep hustling guys!

Winthrop is on fire, and the Bucs can't do much right...

9-1 run for Winthrop - first working it effectively down low, then a 3.

We need to draw fouls on Xavier Cooks and Keon Moore.

Scoring droughts and wide open 3s.. Seen this story before.